Low dose product and method for treating diarrhea

ABSTRACT

A method of treating diarrhea in a patient includes administering a dose of 2.0-7.0 mg of cetirizine and 3.0-15.0 mg of famotidine.

BACKGROUND

Diarrhea is a common condition characterized by increased frequency or fluidity of bowel movements. Diarrhea may cause dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities that may require hospitalization to replace lost fluids and electrolytes until the symptoms subside. Persistent, uncontrolled diarrhea can cause such severe malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances and dehydration that it may ultimately result in death. Acute diarrhea is usually treated with fluid and electrolyte replacement, dietary modifications and antidiarrheal or antimicrobial agents. Acute diarrhea complications may cause severe illness, especially in high-risk groups, for example patients with underlying immunosuppression or advanced age. Antidiarrheal treatment is also required in patients with chronic diarrhea. Empiric therapies routinely used for chronic diarrhea include: stool-modifying agents (such as psyllium and fiber), anticholinergic agents, opiates, antibiotics, and probiotics.

Chronic diarrhea may be a symptom of a chronic disease, for example irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It has been estimated that the prevalence of chronic diarrhea in the United States is approximately 5%. IBS alone is estimated to affect 15-20% of the U.S. population, and accounts for at least 30% of all gastroenterology health care costs. In many cases, the cause of the chronic diarrhea is not found, the diagnosis remains uncertain, and empiric treatments unsuccessful. Thus, there is an ongoing need for antidiarrheal agents that effectively stop or greatly reduce bowel movements and fluid loss in patients undergoing treatment, to remove the cause of diarrhea, or in patients in which the cause of diarrhea is not found.

While the various forms of chronic diarrhea likely have different underlying mechanisms, common mechanisms are shared. For example, intestinal tissues from patients with IBS-D have demonstrated increased epithelial gaps (tight junctions) that allow noxious stimuli/antigen exposure to activate the histamine pathways (Martinez C. et al., “The Jejunum of Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Shows Molecular Alterations in the Tight Junction Signaling Pathway That Are Associated With Mucosal Pathobiology and Clinical Manifestations” Am J Gastroenterol (2012) 107:736-746). Subsets of patients with chronic diarrhea, namely food allergy diarrhea and IBS-D, have elevated levels of H1 and H2 receptors (Sander, L. E. et al., “Selective Expression of Histamine Receptors H1R, H2R, and H4R, but Not H3R, in the Human Intestinal Tract.” Gut 55.4 (2006): 498-504. PMC. Web. 5 Dec. 2016). The role of mast cell activation and histamine release has been well studied. Known effects of histamine release include decreased barrier integrity, increased vascular permeability, increased smooth muscle contraction, increased peristalsis, and pain. All of these effects can contribute to or be associated with chronic diarrhea patients (Zhang et al., “Mast Cells and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: From the Bench to the Bedside” J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2016 Apr. 30; 22(2):181-92).

H1 and H2 receptor antagonists are two classes of antihistamines. H1 receptor antagonists are used in the symptomatic treatment of multiple conditions, including allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, relief of pruritus in patients with urticaria, and in patients with chronic asthma. Newer H1 receptor antagonists, such as cetirizine, are referred to as second-generation H1 receptor antagonists, and are more selective for peripheral H1 receptors than first-generation H1 receptor antagonists, which antagonize both the central and peripheral nervous system H1 receptors as well as cholinergic receptors. The selectivity significantly reduces the occurrence of adverse drug reactions, such as sedation, while still providing effective relief of allergic conditions.

H2 receptor antagonists, such as famotidine, are used primarily to treat symptoms of acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. H2 receptor antagonists reduce the production of stomach acid. Often diarrhea is listed as a major side effect of H2 receptor antagonists.

It had previously been discovered that an H1 receptor antagonist and an H2 receptor antagonist, in combination, succeeded in treating diarrhea of various types. The combination of 10 mg of cetirizine and 20 mg of famotidine, administered to patients with diarrhea, resulted in 85-90% positive responders (See table 1 below). A positive responder is identified as having a 50% or more reduction in the number of stools per day or a change in stool formation from liquid to solid. No adverse reactions or events were reported. A control group was treated with standard doses of fiber (Metamucyl®) and an anticholinergic (Bentyl®); positive responders in the control group were less than 25%. See U.S. Pat. Pub., Pub. No. US2014/0275116.

TABLE 1 Study results Treatment Number of Positive Non- Percent Group Participants Responders Responders Responding famotidine 26 25 1  96% and cetirizine dicylcomine 8 1 7 12.5% and psyllium Positive responders = Appreciable decrease in # of stools per day Non-responders = No appreciable decrease in # of stools per day

SUMMARY

In a first aspect, the present invention is a method of treating diarrhea in a patient, comprising administering 2.0-7.0 mg of cetirizine and 3.0-15.0 mg of famotidine to a patient.

In a second aspect, the present invention is a method of treating diarrhea in a patient comprising administering 2.0-7.0 mg of cetirizine and 3.0-15.0 mg of famotidine to a patient. The cetirizine and famotidine are administered simultaneously.

In a third aspect, the present invention is a method of treating diarrhea in a patient, comprising administering 2.0-7.0 mg of cetirizine and 3.0-15.0 mg of famotidine to a patient. The patient has acute diarrhea, chronic diarrhea or IBS-D.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention is a method of treating diarrhea in a patient comprising administering 2.0-7.0 mg of cetirizine and 3.0-15.0 mg of famotidine to a patient. The patient does not have mastocytic enterocolitis.

In a fifth aspect, the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition for treating diarrhea, comprising 2.0-7.0 mg cetirizine and 3.0-15.0 mg famotidine.

In a sixth aspect, the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition for treating diarrhea, comprising 2.0-7.0 mg cetirizine and 3.0-15.0 mg famotidine. The pharmaceutical composition comprises a unit dosage form or a plurality of unit dosage forms.

Definitions

The term “diarrhea,” means increased fluidity or frequency of stools.

The term “acute diarrhea” is ongoing diarrhea which has occurred for at most 4 weeks.

The term “chronic diarrhea” is ongoing diarrhea for more than 4 weeks.

The term “unit dosage form,” means a single pre-measured dose, and includes tablets, pills, capsules, packets, suspensions, transdermal patches, and rectal suppositories.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a chart showing the change in short-circuit current (ΔI_(SC)) in rat colonic mucosa in the presence of vehicle alone, cetirizine alone, famotidine alone or cetirizine and famotidine in combination, where secretion was induced by electric field stimulation.

FIG. 2 is a chart showing the change in short-circuit current in rat colonic mucosa in the presence of vehicle alone, cetirizine alone, famotidine alone or cetirizine and famotidine in combination, where secretion was induced by electric field stimulation.

FIG. 3 is a chart showing the change in short-circuit current in rat colonic mucosa in the presence of vehicle alone, cetirizine alone, famotidine alone or cetirizine and famotidine in combination, where secretion was induced with PGE₂.

FIG. 4 is a chart showing the change in short-circuit current in rat colonic mucosa in the presence of vehicle alone, cetirizine alone, famotidine alone or cetirizine and famotidine in combination, where secretion was induced with forskolin.

FIG. 5 is a chart showing the change in the number of abdominal contractions with colorectal distension pressure for rats receiving doses of vehicle alone, cetirizine alone (0.15 mg/kg), famotidine alone (0.3 mg/kg) or cetirizine and famotidine in combination in the water avoidance stress-induced colonic hypersensitivity model.

FIG. 6 is a chart showing the change in the number of abdominal contractions with colorectal distension pressure for rats receiving doses of vehicle alone, cetirizine alone (0.25 mg/kg), famotidine alone (0.6 mg/kg) or cetirizine and famotidine in combination in the water avoidance stress-induced colonic hypersensitivity model.

FIG. 7 is a chart showing the change in the number of abdominal contractions with colorectal distension pressure for rats receiving doses of vehicle alone, cetirizine alone, famotidine alone or cetirizine and famotidine in combination in the acetic acid-induced colonic hypersensitivity model.

FIG. 8 is a chart showing change in the number of abdominal contractions with colorectal distension pressure for rats receiving doses of vehicle alone, cetirizine alone, famotidine alone or cetirizine and famotidine in combination in the TNBS-induced colonic hypersensitivity model.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention makes use of administering low doses of cetirizine and famotidine for treating diarrhea. The doses are lower than the typical doses of these drugs individually for treating allergies and acid reflux, respectively, and lower than doses of the two drugs combined previously for treating diarrhea. The synergistic effect of the two drugs allows for lower effective dosages than would otherwise be expected based on previous studies.

The present invention includes treating diarrhea by administering cetirizine and famotidine in combination. A series of in vitro tissue and in vivo animal experiments were performed to investigate the mechanism by which combination therapy of famotidine and cetirizine promotes clinical relief from severe diarrhea and visceral pain. The data from these experiments show that famotidine and cetirizine, in combination, were effective in three rat models of colonic hypersensitivity. At concentrations of 0.25 mg/kg and 0.6 mg/kg of cetirizine and famotidine, respectively, administered two times per day p.o., an increased inhibitory effect on colonic hypersensitivity was observed in all three models. The effective dosages, converted to human equivalent doses, are lower than the typical doses of these drugs individually. Testing of cetirizine and famotidine individually did not result in sufficient inhibition of colonic hypersensitivity in any of the three rat models.

Diarrhea may be acute or chronic. Diarrhea may also be further classified:

Secretory diarrhea: diarrhea which occurs when the intestine does not complete absorption of water from luminal contents and electrolyte absorption is impaired, often caused by bacterial toxins, surgically reduced absorptive area of the intestines, microscopic colitis and luminal secretagogues such as laxatives and bile acids.

Osmotic diarrhea: diarrhea that results from intestinal malabsorption of ingested non-electrolytes.

Inflammatory diarrhea: diarrhea which may be characterized by blood and pus in the stool and possibly an elevated fecal calprotectin level, and inflammation exhibited on intestinal biopsy, caused by, for example, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

IBS-diarrhea predominate (“IBS-D”): chronic diarrhea associated with abdominal pain. In order to have IBS, a patient must have experienced onset of symptoms 6 months prior to diagnosis and must have recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort at least one day per week in the last three months associated with two or more of the following: improvement with defecation; onset associated with a change in frequency of stool; onset associated with a change in form of stool. Once IBS is diagnosed, it can be further classified based on the patient's predominant symptom: diarrhea (IBS-D), or constipation (IBS-C), or mixed (IBS-M).

Functional diarrhea: chronic diarrhea in a patient who does not meet the criteria for IBS, and for which no other cause can be determined. This type of diarrhea may also be referred to as chronic idiopathic diarrhea.

Malabsorbtive diarrhea: diarrhea caused by an enteropathy such as celiac disease (celiac sprue) and giardiasis, which is characterized by excess gas, steatorrhea, and/or weight loss.

Drug induced diarrhea: diarrhea caused by a drug or treatment for an unrelated disease state, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, antibiotic therapy, anti-ulcer therapy, and herbal therapies.

Food intolerance diarrhea: diarrhea that is associated with dietary intake, such as lactose, sugar substitutes or other food substances.

Particularly common is IBS associated diarrhea, a chronic diarrhea, also referred to IBS-diarrhea predominate or simply “IBS-D”. Some researchers claimed to have identified a subset of IBS-D, mastocytic enterocolitis, which they defined as a patient having greater than 20 mast cells per high-power field, based on an average of 10 high-power fields, for at least 2 separate biopsy pieces from random parts of the intestinal mucosa, using an original magnification of X400, an objective having magnification of X40 and an eyepiece having magnification of X10 (Jakate, et al., “Mastocytic Enterocolitis: Increased mucosal mast cells in chronic intractable diarrhea” Arch Pathol Lab Med (2006) 130:362-367). In an aspect of the present invention, the patient does not have mastocytic enterocolitis.

The effective doses used in the three rat models of colonic hypersensitivity were converted to human effective doses using the FDA Guidance for Industry information. “Guidance for Industry: Estimating the Maximum Safe Starting Dose in Initial Clinical Trials for Therapeutics in Adult Healthy Volunteers” (July 2005) by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research CDER. For example, doses of 0.25 mg/kg of cetirizine and 0.6 mg/kg of famotidine are doubled because the doses are administered twice a day. Then FDA guidelines are used to translate the doses to human equivalent doses of 4.82 mg of cetirizine and 11.6 mg of famotidine.

The cetirizine may be used in an amount of 2.0 to 7.0 mg per dose, including 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0 mg per dose. Preferably, the cetirizine is administered 1, 2, 3 or 4 times per day. The cetirizine may be administered as an injectable formulation, for example intravenously, intraparenterally or intramuscularly; transdermally, via a transdermal patch; or, preferably, orally, as a powder, tablet or capsule, an oral solution or suspension, or sublingual or buccal tablets. Alternative forms of administration include rectal suppositories, inhaled, epidural, subcutaneous, nasal spray, transmucosal, and intradermal formulations.

The famotidine may be used in an amount of 3.0 to 15.0 mg per dose, including 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0, 9.5 10.0, 10.5, 11.0, 11.5, 12.0, 12.5, 13.0, 13.5, 14.0, 14.5 and 15.0 mg per dose. Preferably, the famotidine is administered 1, 2, 3 or 4 times per day. The famotidine may be administered as an injectable formulation, for example intravenously, intraparenterally or intramuscularly; transdermally, via a transdermal patch; or, preferably, orally, as a powder, tablet or capsule, an oral solution or suspension, or sublingual or buccal tablets. Alternative forms of administration include rectal suppositories, inhaled, epidural, subcutaneous, nasal spray, transmucosal, and intradermal formulations.

Patients often respond to treatment within 48 to 72 hours. However, treatment should be carried out for an amount of time to resolve any underlying cause in the case of acute diarrhea, for example 3 to 14 days, or 5 to 10 days. In the case of chronic diarrhea, a 30 day trial is reasonable, and if the underlying cause of the diarrhea cannot be resolved, for example in the case of IBS-D, then treatment should be continued indefinitely.

Preferably, the cetirizine and famotidine are administered simultaneously, as a unit dosage form containing both receptor antagonists. Examples of unit dosage forms include oral compositions, such as tablets (for example, oral, sublingual or buccal tablets), capsules (for example, hard gelatin and soft gelatin capsules), transmucosal and sublingual patches and films, pre-measured powder packets and saches, flavored and/or sweetened aqueous solutions or suspensions. Because diarrhea is often associated with dehydration, flavored and/or sweetened aqueous solutions or suspension may be oral rehydration solutions, or solutions which also contain sodium and glucose or a glucose-containing saccharide, in amounts of 250 ml, 500 ml or 1 liter of fluid. Furthermore, a pre-measured powder packet, containing the receptor antagonists, together with sodium (for example, as sodium chloride) and glucose or a glucose-containing saccharide, and optionally other excipients, flavorings and/or sweeteners, may be provided, which may be readily mixed with water prior to consumption. Preferably, the oral unit dosage form is present as a once-per-day dosage.

Examples of oral dosage forms include a tablet containing famotidine, in an amount of 3.0, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5 or 15.0 mg, as a core, and a coating of cetirizine, in an amount of 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 or 7.0 mg. Another example includes a capsule containing granules of famotidine and cetirizine in water-soluble matrix. In another example, both the famotidine and the cetirizine are present as a mixture in a matrix, either as a tablet or within a capsule.

Other unit dosage forms may also be provided, containing both cetirizine and famotidine. For example, injectable formulation containing a sterile solution or suspension, including formulation for administration intravenously, intraparenterally or intramuscularly, may be provided. A unit dosage form for administration transdermally, via a transdermal patch, may be provided. Other unit dosage forms include rectal suppositories, inhaled, epidural, subcutaneous, nasal spray, and intradermal formulations. Excipients and adjuvants may be also be included in any of the unit dosage forms, both oral and non-oral.

Multi-dosage forms, such as kits, containing 2 to 30, 3 to 25, or 5 to 14 unit dosage forms, for example 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 20, 40, 50 or 60 unit dosage forms, may be provided. Preferably, the multi-dosage forms contain sufficient unit dosage forms for administration over a period of 2 to 30, 3 to 25, or 7 to 14 days, for example 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20 or 30 days. Kits may also be provided, which include oral rehydration solutions, or powders which may be hydrated to form oral rehydration solutions, or kits containing sodium and glucose or a glucose-containing saccharide, as well as other excipients, flavorings and/or sweeteners, together with unit dosage forms.

Examples

In an effort to understand the potential efficacy of histamine H1 and H2 receptor antagonists to alleviate diarrhea, a series of in vitro and animal experiments were performed to investigate the mechanism by which combination therapy of famotidine and cetirizine promotes clinical relief from severe diarrhea and visceral pain.

In Vitro Experimental Results

The first experiment examined the effect of famotidine and cetirizine alone or in combination on nerve-mediated active electrolyte transport across the rat colonic mucosa in Ussing chambers. Active chloride secretion was induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) at 16 Hz and the effects of famotidine and cetirizine individually and in combination on EFS-induced short circuit current (I_(SC)) were assessed under voltage-clamp conditions. Data are presented as mean±standard error of mean (SEM). Data were analyzed using 2-way analysis of variance employing Bonferroni's test for multiple comparisons. The famotidine and cetirizine concentration ranges evaluated were chosen based on previous published studies (Roch-Arveiller, M. et al., “In vitro effect of cetirizine on PGE 2 release by rat peritoneal macrophages and human monocytes” Agents and Actions (1994) 43:13; Liu, H. et al., “Effects of first and second generation antihistamines on muscarinic induced mucus gland cell ion transport” BMC Pharmacol. 2005 Mar. 24; 5:8; Ahrens, R. et al., “Histamine-induced chloride secretion is mediated via H2-receptors in the pig proximal colon” Inflammation Research (February 2003, Volume 52, Issue 2, pp 79-85); Deiteren et al., “Histamine H4 and H1 receptors contribute to postinflammatory visceral hypersensitivity” Gut. 2014 December; 63(12):1873-82).

FIG. 1 demonstrates that the combination of 10 μM famotidine and 5 μM cetirizine reduced electrical field stimulation-induced short-circuit current. Low concentrations of famotidine (10 μM) and cetirizine (5 μM) had no effect on EFS-induced ΔI_(SC) across the rat colonic mucosa when the agents were applied individually. However, the combination of famotidine (10 μM) and cetirizine (5 μM) significantly inhibited EFS-induced ΔI_(SC). In FIG. 1 , “H1R” is cetirizine, “H2R” is famotidine and “Inhib” is inhibition.

FIG. 2 shows that while modest changes in I_(SC) were observed at very high concentrations of individual drugs (famotidine 200 μM, cetirizine 100 μM), only the combination of famotidine (200 μM) and cetirizine (100 μM) produced a larger inhibition of the EFS-induced ΔI_(SC) than either compound alone at these concentrations.

These experiments demonstrated that the combination of famotidine and cetirizine significantly inhibited nerve-mediated ion transport across the rat colonic mucosa. Inhibition of ion transport would be expected to reduce the secretion of electrolytes and associated water thereby reducing the incidence and/or severity of diarrhea.

This first series of in vitro experiments demonstrated that combining doses of cetirizine and famotidine, while non-effective individually, attenuated active ion transport induced by neural stimulation, that is EFS. Additional in vitro studies were conducted to determine whether the combination of famotidine and cetirizine inhibited active ion secretion induced by prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) or forskolin. These secretogogues were selected because PGE₂ mediates the occurrence of watery diarrhea in response to a low-grade inflammatory insult and forskolin because it selectively activates all forms of cAMP-mediated intestinal secretion.

The in vitro experimental conditions were identical to those described previously except that electrical field stimulation was not used. Rather, PGE₂ (prostaglandin E₂) or forskolin was applied to the serosal side of the mucosal preparation to induce an increase in I_(SC) as an electrophysiological indication of net active ion transport across the colonic mucosa. The increase in active ion transport was calculated as the difference between maximum I_(SC) and baseline I_(SC) divided by 0.6 (exposed tissue area in cm²). Data are presented as mean±SEM. Data were analyzed using 1-way ANOVA followed by a Bonferroni post-test.

FIG. 3 demonstrates that at concentrations of 6 μM famotidine and 3 μM cetirizine, neither drug alone was effective; however, the combination of famotidine and cetirizine at these concentrations significantly inhibited (31.8%) PGE₂-induced changes in I_(SC). The data showed statistical significance at levels of P<0.001 combination compared to vehicle, P<0.001 combination compared to 3 μM cetirizine and P<0.05 combination compared to 6 μM famotidine.

Similar to the results observed for PGE₂ treatment, at concentrations of 6 μM famotidine and 3 μM cetirizine, each drug alone was only minimally effective in inhibiting forskolin-induced changes in I_(SC). However, FIG. 4 shows the combination of 6 μM famotidine and 3 μM cetirizine significantly inhibited (22.0%) forskolin-induced changes in ISC. The data showed statistical significant levels of P<0.001 combination compared to vehicle, P<0.5 combination compared to 3 μM cetirizine and P<0.05 combination compared to 6 μM famotidine.

Taken together, these data demonstrate that famotidine and cetirizine in combination attenuate PGE₂-induced and forskolin-induced changes in rat I_(SC) across the isolated rat colonic mucosa; these results are consistent with those observed for electrical field stimulation of I_(SC) as shown in FIG. 2 .

In Vivo Experimental Results

The first in vivo study evaluated the efficacy of famotidine and cetirizine alone and in combination on visceral pain using chronic water avoidance stress (WAS), an experimental animal model of stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity. Male Fischer rats (250-300 g) were acclimated to the animal facility, laboratory, and animal handlers for 2 weeks before exposure to the chronic stressor. Rats were removed from their home cage and placed on a platform surrounded by water for 1 hour. This procedure was performed daily for 10 days. As a verification that the rats did not habituate to the daily stressor, fecal pellet output (FPO) was assessed during each WAS exposure to verify the effect of stress on autonomic outflow.

Twenty-four hours after exposure to the final day of WAS (day 10), a visceromotor behavioral response (VMR) to colorectal distension (CRD) was used to assess colonic sensitivity. VMR was quantified as the number of abdominal contractions in response to graded (0, 20, 40, and 60 mmHg) pressures of isobaric CRD that were administered in a randomized manner. Immediately following VMR to CRD, rats were euthanized and terminal blood was collected for potential PK analysis. Rats were dosed orally, twice daily, for 3.5 days with vehicle control or with cetirizine and famotidine alone or in combination. The final dose was administered 1 hour before the colonic sensitivity assessment. Data are presented as mean±SEM. Data were analyzed using 2-way analysis of variance followed by a Bonferroni's test for multiple comparisons. The famotidine and cetirizine concentration ranges examined were chosen based on previous published studies (Roch-Arveiller, M. et al., “In vitro effect of cetirizine on PGE 2 release by rat peritoneal macrophages and human monocytes” Agents and Actions (1994) 43:13; Liu, H. et al., “Effects of first and second generation antihistamines on muscarinic induced mucus gland cell ion transport” BMC Pharmacol. 2005 Mar. 24; 5:8; Ahrens, R. et al., “Histamine-induced chloride secretion is mediated via H2-receptors in the pig proximal colon” Inflammation Research (February 2003, Volume 52, Issue 2, pp 79-85); Deiteren et al., “Histamine H4 and H1 receptors contribute to postinflammatory visceral hypersensitivity” Gut. 2014 December; 63(12):1873-82).

Daily water avoidance stress consistently increased the number of fecal pellets. The administration of cetirizine and famotidine, alone or in combination, had no effects on fecal output and thus did not alter stress levels themselves to confound the data.

FIG. 5 shows that at the lowest tested doses, administration of famotidine (0.3 mg/kg) and cetirizine (0.15 mg/kg) alone or in combination had no effect on colonic hypersensitivity. In FIG. 5 : Fam=famotidine; CET=cetirizine; n=number of animals.

At a higher dose of the combination of famotidine (0.6 mg/kg) and cetirizine (0.25 mg/kg), an increased inhibitory effect on colonic hypersensitivity compared to either treatment alone was observed. FIG. 6 shows that, at these doses, neither drug alone had an effect, while the combination of famotidine and cetirizine increased the inhibitory effect by 19.2%. In FIG. 6 : ††††=p<0.0001 for the combination compared to vehicle; **=p<0.01 and ****=p<0.0001 for the combination compared to famotidine; and #=p<0.05 and ###=p<0.001 and ####=p<0.0001 for the combination compared to cetirizine.

In a second rodent model, dilute acetic acid was employed to simulate colonic irritation in order to examine the potential effects of famotidine and cetirizine. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (290-360 g) were acclimated to the animal facility for 2 weeks before being subjected to acute colonic sensitization. Rats were dosed orally with vehicle control, famotidine (0.6 mg/kg), cetirizine (0.25 mg/kg), or the combination of famotidine and cetirizine for 3.5 days, twice daily. The final dose was administered 1 hour before the colonic sensitivity assessment. Dilute acetic acid (1.5 ml of 0.6% acetic acid) was infused into the mid-to-distal colon 1 hour prior to colonic sensitivity assessment. One hour following colonic infusion of acetic acid, a VMR to CRD was used to assess colonic sensitivity. The VMR was quantified as the number of abdominal contractions in response to graded (0, 20, 40, and 60 mg Hg) pressures of isobaric CRD that were administered in a randomized manner. Data were analyzed using 2-way ANOVA followed by a Bonferroni's test for multiple comparisons. FIG. 7 demonstrates that the combination of famotidine and cetirizine, but not either drug alone, induced a significant inhibition (26.7% inhibition at 40 mm Hg and 17.8% inhibition at 60 mmHg) of acetic acid-induced colonic hypersensitivity. In FIG. 7 : *=p<0.05 and ***=p<0.001 for the combination compared to vehicle; #=p<0.05 and ##=p<0.001 for the combination compared to famotidine

In the third rodent model, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) was used to induce acute colitis in adult rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (260-310 g) acclimated to the animal facility for 2 weeks before being subjected to chronic sensitization. Following an overnight fast, an acute colitis was induced by daily intracolonic infusion of 0.5 mL of TNBS (50 mg/kg in 25% ethanol) for 7 days. TNBS-induced inflammation was assessed via Disease Activity Index (DAI) for each of the 7 days following TNBS infusion.

In the TNBS study, colonic hypersensitivity was assessed via VMR to CRD at day 15 post-TNBS. Rats were subjected to 3 colonic distensions at 40 mm Hg, and animals that demonstrated 18 or more abdominal contractions during any of the distension periods were designated as qualifiers and allowed to proceed in the study. Animals that demonstrated fewer than 18 abdominal contractions were designated as non-qualifiers and removed from the study. Final colonic hypersensitivity assessment was conducted on qualified animals between from 28 to 30 post-TNBS via VMR to CRD at graded distension pressures of 0, 20, 40, and 60 mm Hg administered in random fashion.

Rats were dosed orally with 0.25 mg/kg cetirizine or 0.6 mg/kg famotidine twice daily for 3.5 days or with cetirizine and famotidine in combination at the same dose and schedule. The final dose was administered 1 hour before the final colonic sensitivity assessment.

Results shown in FIG. 8 demonstrate an effect on inhibition of TNBS-induced, post-inflammatory colonic hypersensitivity by the cetirizine and famotidine combination. Neither cetirizine alone nor famotidine alone exhibited any effect, but the combination of famotidine and cetirizine significantly decreased colonic hypersensitivity at 40 mm Hg CRD (38.5% inhibition) and 60 m Hg CRD (28.3% inhibition). In FIG. 8 *=p<0.05 and ***=p<0.001 for the combination compared to vehicle; #=p<0.05 and ####=p<0.001 for the combination compared to famotidine; and †=p<0.05 and †††=p<0.001 for the combination compared to cetirizine.

The in vitro and in vivo data demonstrate that the combination of cetirizine and famotidine effectively attenuates colonic hypersensitivity in multiple rodent models of colonic hypersensitivity that resemble the IBS phenotype.

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What is claimed is:
 1. A method of treating diarrhea in a patient, comprising: administering cetirizine and famotidine, wherein the cetirizine is administered in a dose of 2.0-7.0 mg per day and the famotidine is administered in a dose of 3.0-15.0 mg per day.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cetirizine is administered in a dose of 3.0-6.0 mg per day and the famotidine is administered in a dose of 5.0-14.0 mg per day.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cetirizine is administered in a dose of 4.5-5.5 mg per day and the famotidine is administered in a dose of 11.0-13.0 mg per day.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the patient has chronic diarrhea.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the patient has IBS-D.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the patient has acute diarrhea.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cetirizine and famotidine are administered simultaneously.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein cetirizine and famotidine are administered once per day for at least 2 days.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the cetirizine and famotidine are administered once per day for at least 7 days.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the patient does not have mastocytic enterocolitis
 11. A pharmaceutical composition for treating diarrhea, comprising: 2.0-7.0 mg cetirizine, and 3.0-15.0 mg famotidine.
 12. The composition of claim 11, wherein the composition comprises 3.0-6.0 mg cetirizine and 5.0-14.0 mg famotidine.
 13. The composition of claim 11, wherein the composition comprises 4.5-5.5 mg cetirizine and 11.0-13.0 mg famotidine.
 14. The composition of claim 11, wherein the composition is an oral dosage form.
 15. The composition of claim 11, wherein composition comprises a unit dosage form.
 16. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 11, wherein the unit dosage form comprises at least one tablet or capsule.
 17. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 11, wherein the unit dosage form further comprises sodium, and glucose or a glucose-containing saccharide.
 18. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 11, wherein the unit dosage form further comprises an oral rehydration solution.
 19. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 11, wherein the oral dosage form comprises a plurality of unit dosage forms.
 20. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 11, comprising: 2.0-3.0 mg cetirizine, and 3.0-5.0 mg famotidine.
 21. A method of treating IBS-D in a patient, comprising: administering cetirizine and famotidine to the patient, wherein the cetirizine is administered in a dose of 2.0-7.0 mg per day and the famotidine is administered in a dose of 3.0-15.0 mg per day.
 22. The method of claim 1, wherein the diarrhea is selected from the group consisting of: secretory diarrhea, osmotic diarrhea, inflammatory diarrhea, functional diarrhea, malabsorbtive diarrhea, drug induced diarrhea, food intolerance diarrhea and IBS-D. 